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Families Gather to Celebrate 70 Years Working Together in Timber

Hurfords and Spencers share love of forests


Fri 02 Aug 24

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Two Northern NSW families gathered in a plantation forest near Casino recently to celebrate and salute the many generations that have worked together over 70 years to protect and sustainably manage timber production in the region.

Members of the well-known Hurford and Spencer families enjoyed a Sunday in June at one of the Hurford’s hardwood plantation properties at Ellangowan, south of Casino.

Intertwined in the forest industry, their business relationship commenced when Jim Hurford purchased his first steam sawmill at Bungawalbyn in 1950.

In 1952, Jim engaged Bryce Spencer to harvest and haul logs from the Bungawalbyn property to an electric sawmill in north Lismore.

While Bryce and Jim have since passed on, the two families have continued their respective businesses in the ensuing decades under the stewardship of the second generation headed by Rob Hurford and Rex Spencer.

Hurfords family for Wood Central
The Hurford family, from left: Ailsa Hurford, Lexie Hurford, Rob Hurford, Gaela Hurford, Andrew Hurford, Norm Hurford, Arthur Nakford (baby), Sophie Nakford, and Tim Hurford.

Following Hurford’s development of durable hardwood plantations, Rex was first to put his hand up to invest in specialised small harvesting equipment to thin the plantations to allow the best trees to grow.

Andrew Hurford says he will never forget the support provided by Rex Spencer and his son Spud during the wildfires of 2019-20.

“Rex essentially made his harvesting company Ribana and its manpower and equipment available 24/7 for the duration of the wildfires,” Andrew said.

“The Spencers made a huge difference to the outcomes of our properties and our neighbours. Without their support, the loss to Hurford’s plantations and the surrounding areas would have been far greater.”

Robyn Spencer made a fantastic framed photographic timeline of the long relationship at the celebration.

Nine-month-old Arthur Nakford, the first member of the fifth generation of Hurfords, was the youngest attendee. His mother, Sophie Nakford (nee Hurford), said Arthur loved being outside, pulling himself up on the trunk of a tree and playing with leaves.

“He’s so lucky to grow up with an appreciation of the beauty of timber.”

Sophie Nakford (nee Hurford), speaking about Arthur Nakford, the fifth generation of the Hurford family.
Spencers family
The Spencer family of Ribana Transport gather for a photograph in the forest to celebrate their 70-year association with the Hurford family.

The Spencer family were early settlers in the Barraba district of northern NSW. William Spencer, the eldest of eight children, was born in Suffolk in England in 1806. There were four more sons in the family and as they grew up, they worked on farms around the Wickambrook and Moulton villages.

As the years passed and the family married and moved around the area, the sons became interested in the NSW settlements, especially after their brother, the Reverend Charles, travelled to Sydney in 1839.

Stephen and his sister, Ellen, were the next to arrive in 1842 with their spouses and various other relatives.  Finally, William and his wife, Elizabeth, and party arrived in 1945.  All the family settled on a farm in the Hunter Valley.

Author

  • Jim Bowden

    Jim Bowden, senior editor and co-publisher of Wood Central. Jim brings 50-plus years’ experience in agriculture and timber journalism. Since he founded Australian Timberman in 1977, he has been devoted to the forest industry – with a passion.

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